Aster plant named `Thyra Viking`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Aster plant named `Thyra Viking`, characterized by its rapid growth rate and moderate vigor; freely branching and uniform plant habit; freely flowering even under winter conditions; large daisy-type inflorescences with dark red purple ray florets anf yellow centers; and good post-production longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of potAster plant, botanically known as Aster novi-belgii and referred to bythe cultivar name Thyra Viking.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Årslev, Denmark. The objective of the breeding programwas to create new Aster cultivars having desirable inflorescence colors,uniform plant habit and rapid growth rate.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made in 1994, by the inventorof the cultivar Purple Viking (U.S. Plant Patent application filedconcurrently) as the male or pollen parent with the cultivar Royal Ruby(not patented) as the female or seed parent.

The cultivar Thyra Viking was discovered and selected by the inventor asa flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Årslev, Denmark. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivarby terminal cuttings taken at Årslev, Denmark, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this Aster are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Thyra Viking`. These characteristicsin combination distinguish `Thyra Viking` as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Rapid growth rate and moderate vigor.

2. Freely branching and uniform plant habit.

3. Freely flowering even under winter conditions.

4. Large daisy-type inflorescences with dark red purple ray florets andyellow centers.

5. Good post-production longevity.

The cultivar Thyra Viking has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

In comparison to plants of the new Aster, plants of the male parent, thecultivar Purple Viking, have larger inflorescences. In comparison toplants of the new Aster, plants of the female parent, the cultivar RoyalRuby, are taller, have smaller flowers, differ in ray floret color andhave poor postproduction longevity.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a top perspective view of typicalflowering plant of the new Aster.

The second photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typicalinflorescence of the new Aster. Floret and foliage colors in thesephotographs may vary from the actual ray and foliage colors due to lightreflectance.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Årslev, Denmark, under glasswith average day and night temperatures of 20C. Plants received longday/short night treatments for the first six weeks, then short day/longnight until flowering. Measurements and numerical values representranges or averages for six typical flowering plants.

Botanical classification: Aster novi-belgii cultivar Thyra Viking.

Commercial classification: Pot Aster.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Aster novi-belgii Purple Viking (U.S. PlantPatent application filed concurrently).

Female or seed parent.--Aster novi-belgii Royal Ruby (not patented).

Propagation:

Type.--Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to rooting.--Summer: About 12 days at a temperature of 21C. Winter:About 13 days at a temperature of 21C.

Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Perennial herbaceous decorative container plant. Stemsupright to outward, inverted triangle, uniform habit and very freelybranching. Rapid growth rate and moderate vigor. Appropriate for 10 to15-cm containers. Usually about 11 weeks are required to produce aflowering plant.

Plant height: 12 to 15 cm.

Plant width: 23 to 27 cm.

Stem diameter: 2 to 5 mm.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Distichous. Shape: Elliptic withacute apex and auriculate base, margin entire. Size: Length: 3.5 to 5cm. Width: 6 to 11 mm. Texture: Glabrous, leathery. Color: Abaxialsurface: 137A. Adaxial surface: 137C.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Daisy inflorescence borne on terminals above foliage,arising from leaf axils. Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on acapitulum.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plant flower in the latesummer/autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year,inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under shortday/long night conditions.

Post-production longevity.--Good, inflorescences last about three tofour weeks on the plant. Inflorescences persistent.

Quality of inflorescences.--Inflorescences form at every leaf axil.Moderate flowering, usually 5 to 8 inflorescences per flowering stem.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: 3 to 3.5 cm. Depth (height): 1 to 1.5 cm.Diameter of disc: 5 to 9 mm.

Bud.--Shape: Ovoid. Size: Length: 8 to 10 mm. Diameter: 6 to 8 mm.

Ray florets.--Quantity: 100 to 150 per inflorescence. Number of whorls:More than two. Shape: Narrowly obovate with obtuse apex and entiremargin. Size: Length: 1.6 to 1.9 cm. Width: 1 to 2 mm. Texture: Satiny,smooth and glabrous. Aspect: Flat to slightly concave. Orientation:Horizontal to peduncle. Color: Mature, abaxial surface: 80A to darkerthan 80A. Mature, adaxial surface: 82B.

Disc florets.--Quantity: 40 to 50 per inflorescence. Length: 6 to 8 mm.Color, apex of corolla; Immature: Dark purple. Mature: Almosttransparent.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Angled about 45° to the stem. Length: 2.5 to 3 cm.Texture: Glabrous. Color: 137A.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Antherposition: Slightly above the apex of disc corolla. Anther size: 1 to 2mm. Anther color: 14A. Pollen: Moderate, 14A in color. Gynoecium:Present on both ray and disc florets. Stigma position: Even with theanthers. Stigna shape: Bifurcate. Stigma color: 71A.

Disease resistance: No known Aster diseases observed to date on plantsgrown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aster plant named`Thyra Viking`, as illustrated and described.